Is it fair to say for most people the left hook is something you just have or don't.

I disagree due to personal experience.

I couldn’t punch worth squat when I first started shadow boxing for fun. But that changed, including for my left hook.

 

Usually there's kind of a pattern with a fighter and a left hook when they learn it;

they start with kind of a slap/ arm punch

then it becomes kind of a push

then after a while they get acceleration and leverage behind it so it becomes a formidable weapon.

A Sven Ottke left hook can KO somebody just as badly as a David Tua or Pipino Cuavas left hook if it's set up properly.

 

No not at all. Boxing is a technique driven sport. Anybody can learn the technique. 99% of fighters can't hit worth **** when they first start boxing but over time as a fighter practices then they start to really stand out. Fighters that aren't known for their left hook are probably the ones who aren't practicing it enough. Joe Frazier built his entire style around it as did David Tua.

Jack Dempsey would beat guys to death with that right hand of his until he was properly shown how to throw the left hook. Through practice and persistence he developed it into his most formidable weapon to the point where it rolled naturally off of his shoulder.

Anyone can hit with ANY punch through practice and persistence.

 

Nah, Im a natural heavy hitter and when I first tried the left hook, it felt like it had the power of a 5 year old girls. After watching different fighters and just practising the left hook over and over, it is now possibly hardest punch. All about technique and mechanics baby

 

No, I don't think so. Some people may have better co-ordination and body mechanics - but repitition is the mother of skill.

Work on it long enough and in the right way and anybody can have a good left hook. Of course, some might be better than others.

Hookers are made, not born

 

IMO Evander Holyfield's left hook wasn't nearly as devastating as David Tua's left hook. However, since he had the technique mastered and knew when to throw it, Holyfield's left hook was still effective.

 

I do think it's a gift, but you can manipulate the angle of the fist (index finger knuckle facing down) to generate more power than having said knuckle facing the ceiling.

 

Problem with Hooks, is we have a Dominant side. People who are right sided, have an imbalance in their left shoulder, all down to the dominant peripheral eye.

 

Scrap, what do you believe the role of dominant eye (is this the same as dominant peripheral eye?) is in boxing? Ditto dominant hand and foot? I find this stuff fascinating but can't quite wrap my brain how they interact with each other.... Especially as I'm right eye, left hand and right foot dominant.

No wonder I'm so clumsy.

 

Most action comes from the Peripheral eye, that which sees movement. over time it effects muscle mostly around the Hips centre of gravity. In balance in the Hips has a chain reaction throughout the Body, and causes most of the balance problems that occur, causing injuries
.

 

Is there a "for Dummies" version of that you could give me?

 

Same man, same.
Flat feet is a *****.
Trying to push off my left foot to move forward significantly and jab has been something I’ve had to work on more than almost anything.

 

Haha, I have flat feet too- like, medically, fallen arches. My coaches did their best, but whatever they tried I was like a smaller Dave Allen in the ring. Except I just bulldozed forward regardless, it was the only thing I could get the hang of.